FECTAB Raises Concerns Once Again on Proposed Cruise Terminal

A public consultation being held by the Department of Environment is underway virtually on the Government of Belize’s Press Office Facebook page.  The meeting is to get feedback from stakeholders in the tourism sector on the proposed development of a cruise tourism port in Belize City.  Under the previous government administration, the proposal of constructing a new port facility was shelved because of environmental concerns.  That proposal is once again being revisited under a new government which has prompted FECTAB to come forward with its concerns and objections.  Tom Greenwood is the immediate past president.

Tom Greenwood

Tom Greenwood, Executive, FECTAB

“Ten million cubic meters of material, called unsuitable material to be dumped just outside of the barrier reef.  What is ten million cubic meters?  Well look at it this way, it’s like multiplying the Empire State Building in New York nine times.  Multiply it nine times, that’s the amount of bulk of the material to be dredged.  It also, if you went to a flat area, let’s say outside of Hattieville where there is a lot of flatland there.  If you were to deposit ten million cubic meters of unsuitable material in that area, it would take up the space occupied by four thousand, four thousand Olympic sized swimming pools.  The fishing cooperatives, thousands of fishermen, there are four fishing cooperatives in Belize, the others who are private fishermen, the tourism industry at the marine level and all that, should be horrified at this concept, truly horrified.  One thing that sends up the alarm bells is the alacrity with which this thing has been raised again after being soundly defeated last year.”